WWII U.S. Early Colt Commando 4″ .38 Special SA/DA Revolver, MFD 1942 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1126

LSB#: 210920TC03

Make: Colt

Model: Commando

Serial Number: 7914

Year of Manufacture: 1942 (COLT Serial Number Lookup)

Caliber: .38 Special

Action Type: 6-Shot, DA/SA Double and Single Action, Swing-Out Fluted Cylinder Revolver.

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT COMMANDO / .38 SPECIAL”, the top is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. / PAT’D AUG.5.1884. JULY 4.1905. OCT.5.1926.”. The left-front of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in triangle, the left-rear with  upside-down “8”. The top-rear of the frame on the left is marked with a flaming bomb ordnance mark. The crane and crane cut are each marked with the serial number, “7914” and the crane cut is also marked “H”.

Barrel Length: 4”

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch in the topstrap.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered Coltwood with molded Colt medallions and smooth borders. The grips have a few light nicks and scratches in the smooth borders, and a few more notable nicks on the right lower edge. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well-defined. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. Some minor stubborn fouling can be seen near the forcing cone.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 94% of its parkerized finish. The finish is thinning on many edges. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs, some through the finish. The cylinder has light thinning on most edges, and a turn line partly through the finish. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good-to-Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up solidly on all chambers with the trigger depressed. The double-action trigger is smooth, the single action is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: As the United States entered World War II, demand for all things military strained even the massive industrial capacity of America. Front-line arms were prioritized for front-line units, but there was also a need to arm law enforcement, guards at factories and other sites with strategic importance, the Maritime Commission and various other non-combat roles which still required arms. To help fill this demand, Colt produced a variation of their Official Police revolver with specifications determined by the US Government. The result was the Commando revolver, roughly equivalent to Smith & Wesson’s Victory model, with 50,617 produced from 1942-1945. This example is in very good standing, retaining nearly all of its original finish, its Coltwood grips, a nice bore and strong mechanics. It also features a very low serial number. This revolver should make a great addition to a Colt or WWII small arms collection. Good luck and happy bidding!

WWII U.S. Early Colt Commando 4" .38 Special SA/DA Revolver, MFD 1942 C&R
WWII U.S. Early Colt Commando 4″ .38 Special SA/DA Revolver, MFD 1942 C&R